Steering structure



Sept. 9, 1941. F. JOHNSON STEERING STRUCTURE Original Filed July 8, 1940/o W W Z w M B w [J fi/ H v m A a V 6 6 6 /fl55 v, 4 N 3 o a]? a /UFrizz. Jo/zizso Patented Sept. 9, 1941 STEERING STRUCTURE Fritz'Johnson,Burley, Idaho Original application July 8, 1940, Serial No. 344,428.Divided and this application January 15, 1941, Serial No. 374,567

4 Claims. (01. 280 -109) This invention relates to steering devices andis a division of my copending application, Serial Number 344,428, filedJuly 8, 1940.

An object of this invention is to provide a steering device in the formof a dolly for use at the front end of an earth surfacing or workingmachine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steering device of thiskind which is swivelly mounted on the front end of an implement frameand which is so constructed that the height of the forward end of theframe may be adjusted to the desired degree, the device including animproved spindle and mounting means therefor for accomplishingadjustment of the frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved front wheelstructure for an earth working implement which is simple in constructionso that it may easily be disconnected from the implement.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein are shown embodiments ofthe invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan of a steering structure constructed according toan embodiment of this invention mounted in the forward end of an earthworking implement, the implement frame structure being fragmentarilyshown,

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I'I designates generally a truckstructure or dolly which comprises a depending spindle housing I 5iwhich is secured to a head 33 forming the forward end of an earthworking implement such as is disclosed in my copending application. Thehousing I5I is formed axially thereof with a spindle socket or bore I52which opens through the lower portion of the housing I5I. A spindle I53' is adapted to rotatablyengage in the socket I52 and the spindle I53is formed with a'pair of peripheral grooves I54 adjacent the upper endthereof.

The spindle I53 has formed on the lower end thereof an enlarged annularhead I55 comprising one portion of an anti-friction bearing race whichis adapted to rotatably engage in an enlarged bore I56 formed in thelower end of the housing I5I. The bore I is coaxial with the spindlebore Hi2. A second annular anti-friction bearing race I51 rotatablyengages in the bore I55 and about the spindle I53.- Anti-friction ballsI5I-a are interposed between the two races I55 and I51. An annular shimI58 engages loosely about. the spindle I53 and at its lower end engagesagainst the upper side of the race I51.

The. upper end of the shim I58 engages against a shoulder I59 formed bythe bearing bore I56 at its upper end. The spindle I53 is rotatably orswivelly retained in the. bore I52 by means of a retaining bolt I whichis threaded through the spindle housing I5I and engages in a selectedone of the grooves I54. I

The. upward thrust of the spindle I53 due to the weight of the forwardend of the implement, is borne by the anti-friction bearing structureincluding the combined spindle head and race I55, the annular race I51and the bearing .balls 651a. The retaining bolt I00 provides a meanswhereby the spindle I53'is held from downward movement inthe bore I52,but the bolt I60 does not bear against the sides of a selected grooveI54 in such a manner as to take up any upward thrust of the spindle I53.In this manner, the retaining bolt I60 will not be unduly worn or cutoff by excessive weight on the forward end of the implement, the boltI60 acting only to prevent downward movement of the spindle I53 in thebore E52.

By providingthe shim I58, the spindle I53 may be adjusted lengthwise ofthe housing I5I, In

2; other words, with the shim I58 in the bore I56,

the'head I55 of the spindle will be in an extended'po'sition and theretaining bolt will be loosely engaged in the uppermost of the groovesI54. In the event-it is desired to lower the forward end of theimplement, the shim I58 may be removed and with the shim i523 removed,the

spindle I53 will move upwardly in the bore I52 and the retaining boltI60 will engage in the lowermost of the grooves H54. It'will, of course,

be understood that if desired, one or more shims i58 maybe provided,thenumber of shims depending on the length of the bore I55'and where morethan; one shim is provided the spindle I53 maybe provided withadditional retaining bolt receiving grooves I54.

The head I55 of the spindle I53 is fixed upon the inner end of aforwardly directed spindle support 'iiii. Positioned against the innerend of the support, IliI is a pivotal axle body I62 mounted on a pivotI63having a portion thereof threaded into the rear end of the support IGI and locked by a set screw I82. A pair of truck wheels I64 arerotatably carried by the axle body I62 carried by support I6I. The pivotI63 is arranged at the transverse center of and extends rearwardly fromthe axle body I62. The axle body I62 is pivotally held on the shaft orpivot I63 by a nut I83 on the rear end of pivot I63 and which is lockedin adjusted position by a cotter pin I84.

A hitch device generally designated as I65 is secured to the forwardportion of support I6I and includes a bifurcated member or clevis I66which is rockably mounted on a pin or shaft I61 engaging through aforwardly projecting ear I68 carried by the forward side of the supportI6I. A shaft or stem I69 is carried by the clevis I66 and slidablyengages in a housing I10 which is fixed between a pair of draft armsI1I. The housing I10 is formed with a rear wall I12 having an openingI13 through which the stem or shaft I69 slidably engages. A spring I14is disposed about the shaft or stem I69 within the housing I10 and oneend of the spring I14 bears against the rear wall I12 of the housing I10and the opposite or front end of the spring I14 bears against a washerI15 which is mounted on the stem or shaft I69 and held by a retainingpin I16. The draft arms I1I are disposed in parallel relation and extendforwardly of the housing I10. The arms I1I are each formed adjacent theforward ends thereof with an obtusely bent extension I11 terminating ina horizontal ear I18 which is formed with an opening I19.

The two ears I18 are disposed in parallel relation and a securing memberin the form of a pin or bolt is adapted to engage through the alignedopening I19 and also through a draft ear or lug which is carried by therear of the tractor structure. A spacing block I80 is interposed betweenthe forward end portion of the draft arms HI and is secured therebetweenby means of a belt or fastening member I8l. The block or spacing memberI 80 provides a means whereby the two arms I1I will be held in parallelrelation and prevented from bending from the pull exerted on the draftdevice by the tractor.

In the use of this steering Or dolly structure, the forward end of theimplement is provided with the spindle housing which may be welded orotherwise fixedly secured in a depending relat on to the forward end ofthe implement frame. The spindle I53 is vertically adjusted in thesocket I52 by means of the shim I 58 and is locked in its adjustedposition by means of the retaining bolt I60. The forward pull on thesupport I6I is cushioned by means of the hitch device I65, this hitchdevice being rockably secured at its rear end to the axle body memberI6I. The dolly structure is adapted to freely swivel within the spindlehousing II and is prevented from endwise movement in a downwarddirection by means of the retaining bolt I60.

The dolly structure hereinbefore described has been designed for usewith an earth working or surfacing implement such as is disclosed in mycopending application hereinbefore mentioned, but it will be understoodthat this dolly structure may also have other uses in that it may beused with other earth working implements and with a dolly structure ofthis kind, the forward end of the implement frame may be adjusted to thedesired height so as to obtain the desired angle on the tool which iscarried by the implement frame.

What I claim is:

1. In an earth working implement having a mobile frame; the combinationof a vertically disposed element fixed at its upper end to the forwardend of said frame formed with a vertical bore closed at its top, saidbore opening through the lower end of said element and having its lowerportion of greater diameter and of less length than its upper portion, aspindle rotatable in said bore and having an enlarged circular head atits lower end arranged in and depending from the said lower portion,anti-friction bearing means for the spindle correlated with said headand confined in the said lower portion, a support fixed to the bottom ofand extended forwardly from said head, a pivotally supported axle bodydisposed in transverse relation with respect to and connected with therear end of said support, means mounted in said element and looselyengaging in said spindle to arrest downward movement of the latter, anannular shim about said spindle and seated on said bearing means, and ahitch device pivotally connected to said support forwardly of said head.

2. In an earth working implement having a mobile frame; the combinationof a vertically disposed element fixed at its upper end to the forwardend of said frame formed with a ver-' tical bore closed at its top, saidbore opening through the lower end of said element and having its lowerportion of greater diameter and of less length than its upper portion, aspindle rotatable in said bore and having an enlarged circular head atits lower end arranged in and depending from the said lower portion,anti-friction bearing means for the spindle correlated with said headand confined in the said lower portion, a support fixed to the bottom ofand extended forwardly from said head, a pivot bolt engaging in andextended rearwardly from the rear end of said support, an axle bodypivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon said bolt and disposed intransverse relation with respect to said rear end, means for maintainingsaid axle body on the bolt, means connected to said element and engagingin the spindle for arresting vertical movement of the latter, and ahitch device including a yoke-shaped rear end pivotally connected tosaid support forwardly of said head.

3. In an earth working implement having a mobile frame; the combinationof a vertically disposed element fixed at its upper end to the forwardend of said frame formed with a vertical bore closed at its top, saidbore opening through the lower end of said element and having its lowerportion of greater diameter and of less length than its upper portion, aspindle rotatable in said bore and having an enlarged circular head atits lower end arranged in and depending from the said lower portion,anti-friction bearing means for the spindle correlated with said headand confined in the said lower portion, a support fixed to the bottom ofand extended forwardly from said head, a pivot bolt engaging in andextended rearwardly from the rear end of said support, an axle bodypivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon said bolt and disposed intransverse relation with respect to said rear end, means for maintainingsaid axle body on the bolt, means connected to said element and engagingin the spindle for arresting vertical movement of the latter, a hitchdevice including a yoke-shaped rear end pivotally connected to saidsupport forwardly of said head, and means for locking said bolt to saidsupport.

4. In an earth working implement having a mobile frame; the combinationof a vertically disposed element fixed at its upper end to the forwardend of said frame formed With a vertical bore closed at its top, saidbore opening through the lower end of said element and having its lowerportion of greater diameter and of less length than its upper portion, aspindle rotatable in said bore and having an enlarged circular head atits lower end arranged in and depending from the said lower portion,anti-friction bearing means for the spindle correlated with said headand confined in the said lower portion, a support fixed to the bottom ofand extended forwardly from said head, a pivot bolt engaging in andextended rearwardly from the rear end of said support, an axle bodypivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon said bolt and disposed intransverse relation with respect to said rear end, means for maintainingsaid axle body on the bolt, means connected to said element and engagingin the spindle for arresting vertical movement of the latter, a hitchdevice including a yoke-shaped rear end pivotally connected to saidsupport forwardly of said head, and an annular shim about said spindle,seated on said bearing means and confined in the said lower portion ofsaid bore.

FRITZ JOHNSON.

